2018 South Australian Music (SAM) Award Finalists Revealed

This year's finalists for the South Australian Music (SAM) Awards have been revealed by Music SA with Adelaide rockers West Thebarton leading the charge with six nominations.

Pop makers Heaps Good Friends have received five nominations while 2017 SAM Award winners A.B. Original return in four categories this year as do MANE and Wing Defence. These five acts will battle it out for the prestigious 'Best Release' award.

In contention for 'Best Song' are: A.B. Original ('Blaccout'), Adrian Eagle ('17 Again'), Ollie English ('How Many Times'), MANE ('Chasing Butterflies') and West Thebarton ('Bible Camp'). 'Best Group' nominees are: A.B. Original, Grenadiers, Heaps Good Friends, Wanderers and West Thebarton.


While 'Best New Artist' will be fought between Adrian Eagle, Elsy, Paradise Club, Pinkish Blu and Wing Defence. Scroll down for the full list of finalists.

The winners will be announced during a red carpet ceremony hosted by Double J's Zan Rowe at the Adelaide Town Hall on Thursday 8 November. Categories include both People's Choice Awards, determined by online voting, and SAM Awards as judged by a panel of industry peers.

"We are so proud of the talent we have here in this state," says Lisa Bishop, General Manager of Music SA.

"These finalists showcase the quality and diversity in our music scene and represent us well as a UNESCO City of Music. I look forward to celebrating all of our nominees, finalists and winners at the ceremony. The SAM Awards will be a fabulous evening paying tribute to the hard working people in South Australia's music industry."

Tickets to 2018 SAM Awards are open to everyone 18+ and are on sale now. Click here for more information.

2018 SAM Awards Finalists

Best Song

A.B. Original – 'Blaccout'
Adrian Eagle – '17 Again'
Ollie English – 'How Many Times'
MANE – 'Chasing Butterflies'
West Thebarton – 'Bible Camp'

Best New Artist

Adrian Eagle
Elsy
Paradise Club
Pinkish Blu
Wing Defence

Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island Artist

A.B. Original
Corey Theatre
Eskatology
Jessica Wishart
Nathan May

Best Group

A.B. Original
Grenadiers
Heaps Good Friends
Wanderers
West Thebarton

Best Solo

Adrian Eagle
Dyspora
MANE
Motez
Timberwolf

Best Release

A.B. Original – 'Blaccout'
Heaps Good Friends – 'Hug Me' EP
MANE – 'Chasing Butterflies'
West Thebarton – 'Different Beings Being Different'
Wing Defence – 'Listerine'

Best Studio

Chapel Lane Studios
Ghostnote Recording Studio
Island Recording Studios
Mixmasters Productions
Wunderberg's Recording Studio

Best Engineer

Jimmy Balderston
Luke Hancock
Mario Spate
Michael Ellingford
Neville Clark

Best Music Festival / Event

A Day of Clarity (Clarity Records)
Futuresounds Adelaide
Stonecutters Festival
Porch Sessions
WOMADelaide

Best Music Venue

Crown & Anchor Hotel
Fat Controller
Jive
Rocket Bar and Rooftop
Wheatsheaf Hotel

Best Manager

Alex Karatassa
Craig Lock
Emma Coyle & Joel Byrne (Sundial Productions)
Little Acorn Music (Sian Walden)
Sue Germein

Best Cover Art

Heaps Good Friends (Dan Steinert & Tim Coyle – photographer Kate Potter)
K21 (Joel 'Vans The Omega' Moore)
Laura Hill (Darren Longbottom Photographer & Todd Fischer Design)
Neon Tetra (Jack Fenby)
West Thebarton (Nick Astanei Design and Morgan Sette photographer)

Best Music Video

Abbey Howlett (Video International and Capital Waste) – 'Colour Me Gold'
Heaps Good Friends (Aaron Schuppan and Heaps Good Friends) – 'I Could Eat A Full Packet of Yo Yos'
Mallrat (Rory Pippan and Young Black Youth) – 'Better'
West Thebarton (Aaron Schuppan/Video International) – 'Bible Camp'
Wing Defence (Lewis Brideson and Dave Court) – 'Listerine'

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS FINALISTS

 

Blues & Roots Artist

Emily Davis
Lazy Eye
Ollie English
The Skeleton Club
Wanderers

Country Artist

Amber Joy Poulton
Haystacks Calhoon
Kelly Brouhaha
Stefan Hauk
The Heggarties

Electronic Artist

Harli
Hartway
Jethro
Motez
PNK F

Experimental Artist

Abbey Howlett
Bjéar
Brodie Trent
Howl N Bones
Robot Sex Dolls
   

Folk Artist

Bromham
Laura Hill
Mary Webb
The Tangerines
Sarah King

Heavy Award

Dirty Pagans
Hidden Intent
Hindsight
The Straight-Jacket Tailors
Wings of Thanatos
 

Hip Hop Award

Daydream Fever
Dyspora
K21
Shook
Tkay Maidza

Jazz Artist

Adam Page
Chelsea Lee
Django Rowe
Er@ser Description
Kate Fuller and the Boys Club

Pop Artist

Germein
Heaps Good Friends
MANE
Neon Tetra
W.M.N

Punk Award

Horror My Friend
Sleep Talk
Stabbitha & The Knifey Wifeys
Wing Defence
Young Offenders

Rock Award

Donnarumma
Lead Worm
Ripcord
The Dunes
West Thebarton

World Music Award

ELSY
Local Revolution
Los Mescalitos
The Coconut Kids
The Jango